APPLYING TO UNIVERSITIES GERMANY Germany’s public universities offer more than 2,000 degree programs taught in English, though most are at the graduate level. Germany is home to more than 427 stateaccredited universities, of which 120 are private institutions. There are three types of higher education institutions in Germany: universities, universities of applied sciences, and colleges of art, film, and music. Subjects popular among international students include economics and business administration, Germanic studies, electrical engineering, computer science, and music. Application Considerations Undergraduate programs in Germany are very structured in terms of course selection, when compared with programs at many American liberal arts colleges. Students are encouraged to study the German language even if they enrol in English-taught programs. Private universities in Germany offer undergraduate and graduate programs. These institutions typically offer more of a US-style campus experience. Many German universities require the equivalent of a German state-accredited Abitur qualification, a document issued to German secondary school students who have passed their final exams. To find out if you meet the criteria, use this Uni-Assist tool. Early academic planning will help ensure admission requirements are able to be met. Applicants should go to Uni-Assist for the most up to date information on requirements and consult with the International Office at the chosen higher education institution. Direct entry is typically possible with a US high school diploma—as long as the student
has completed prerequisite courses—and one of the following: two years at a college, an associate degree, or four advanced placement exams for direct subject-restricted admission. An IB diploma that fulfills Germany’s IB requirements also qualifies students for direct admission. Applicants who do not fulfill direct admission requirements but have a US high school diploma may qualify for general admission to a preparatory program undertaken at a Studienkolleg, which offers foundational courses to prepare international students for university. In some cases, students may sit for the university qualification exam, known as Feststellungsprüfung. An IB diploma that does not include six mandated examination subjects would also qualify students for a preparatory program. See the Studienkolleg website for more information. With some exceptions, students who plan to enrol in programs taught in German must submit scores from either the German Language University Entrance Examination for Foreign Applicants (DSH) or the Test of German as a Foreign Language (TestDaF). Completion of certain Studienkolleg preparatory courses may also satisfy German language requirements. How to Apply Several websites are designed to help international students find best-fit opportunities, including the DAAD-sponsored Study in Germany website where students can plan their studies by searching and viewing programs according to the language in which the course is offered. Upon identifying their desired program of study, US students should check to see if the university offering it is a member of UniAssist, which is an application service that evaluates international documents and credentials for roughly 180 member universities. If the university is part of the
